Joe Cryan's empty grand gesture

The call by State Democratic Party Chairman Joe Cryan for indicted state senators Sharpe James and Wayne Bryant to resign immediately deserves the top spot on page one of the Guiness Book of Empty Gestures.

Cryan has no political leverage over either of the two and there is no punishment he can inflict upon them or threaten to inflict to move them to comply with his demand.

The episode is one of those rare political opportunities to take a strong public stance with absolutely no downside.

James and Bryant will most certainly ignore Cryan, as he just as certainly knew they would. The chairman's call for their resignations was nothing more than an attempt to establish a public record that Cryan can point to as his commitment to honest government and then shift all the blame to James and Bryant for being obstinate and refusing to leave.

Presumably, Cryan followed established protocol and told both senators privately he was about to go public with his demand. However, it's not known if he or other party leaders tried to convince them privately to step aside. By going public, Cryan guaranteed that any chance of the two senators resigning was a non-starter. They were not about to appear to buckle under pressure.

Both James and Bryant are not seeking re-election, so they are free to remain in office and collect whatever remains on their salaries between now and January, 2008, when both will be replaced by Democrats.

Cryan's timing supports the view that he was motivated by party self-interest alone since no legislative voting sessions are scheduled under after the November election. Where was he, incidentally, when Bryant was indicted back in March and a demand for his resignation at that time would have meant something?

If he feels that strongly about the continued presence of James and Bryant and the corruption issue baggage they bring, why not call on Senate President Dick Codey to schedule a special session and consider expelling the two Senators?